Display-rack.



0. L. SMITH. DISPLAY RACK. APPLIUATLON FILED 0051225. 19os.

Patented Mar.21,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1` O. L. SMITH.

DISPLAY RACK.

`P YLIGATION FILED 001225, 1909.

Patented Mar. 21, 1911.

2 sHBBTeFsHBBT 2.

20 exposed lto 25 from dust and dirt, and

35' device, as fo'r Instance,

45 to, or

UNITED STATES A)PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR LEAVENWORTH SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DISPLAY-RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented B131'. 21, 19111 Application tiled October 25, 1909. Serial No. 524,451.

To all whom if may con/ccm:

Be it known that I, OSCAR L. SMITH, of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of'Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful lmprovement in Displaydacks,

of which the ollovvingis a specification.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to display devices for garments and other merchandise, and more particularly to such devices adapted for use in stores and `'like places for exhibition purposes. i

It is desirable in exhibiting goods for sale in stores to economize space as 'far as possible, at the same time have the entire contents of the show case in which they are contained readily accessible, and the present invention provides means for supporting merchandise, such4 as garments and the like, in such manner that they as will hereinafter more fully apra-jar. v In a'store display device for garments and the like, it is desirable that a Case vor compartment be employed to protect the goods prevent handling by unauthorized persons. It is likewise desirable that `the goods be supported -in such manner that the supportin device can be readily moved from a position within the case to a position at the front of the caser; and that when at the front of the Acase.itbe free for rotative movement, so that goods at bothV sidesof the su orting device may be readily inspected...

ere the supporting a rack, is thu's freely rotatable at all times, there is danger of in juring the case' or compartment as the supporting device' is .bodily moved to and from a position Within the -case or compartment,

40 'and where the case or compartment is'made ofglass, breakage of the glass may result. One feature of the present invention, therefore, relates to means, whereby, asl the sup- .portin device or rack is being bodily moved 'locked or prevented from free rotative move- "-Qnient. A further feature in this connection is the fact that when the supporting de eV or rack is in its outer position It 1s 5o unlocked orkfreed to rotative movement, so

5 into or out of the case it is locked from such rotative' capacity. It is desirable, also, thatV rom a posit-ion within the case, it is' can be readily when the supporting device or rack is in its outer position and is tated, it be locked from bodily movement into the case, because lsuch movement at this time would cause the injury to the case or breakage of glass hereinbe ore noted; and it is also desirable that when within the case or compartment, the supporting device be locked from` rotative movement and also locked from bodily movement, both of which features' are contemplated Within the present invent-ion.

These and other features of the present invention yv'ill best be made clearfrom the following description and accompanying drawings of one form of means for carrying the invention into practical edect, it belng understood, of course, that modiications and variations may be made in the particular means employed Without depart- Ing from the real .invention which is defined invits true scope by the claims.

-In the drawings -Figure l is a front view of a. show case ordisplay device showlng one form ofthe present invent-ion;` Fig.

-2 is a horizontal section on the line 2 2, Fig.

1; Fig. 3 is a sectional detail on an enlarged scale on line 3-3, Fig;- 1, showing, by full lines, the disposition of parts when the supporting Vdevice or raeli: is in its inner position Within the case or compartment, and, by dotted lines, the disposition of part-s when itis in its outer posit-ion; Fig. 4: is a detail-side eleva'- tion lookingin the direction of the arrow, 'Fig'. 3;' Fig. 5 is a detached detailshovving may be employed for' one form 'of lock that locking or holding the supporting device or rack in its posi-tion'vwithin the case or compartment; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 l is an elevation, partly insection, of the roller bearing shown in Fig.6.

The showcase or compartment` 1, Figs. l and 2, many be of any preferredconstruction, and is preferably,

being turned or rothough. not neces' sarily, provided Withdoors 2 which may be movedto afford access' to the case or compartment, such doors being herein shown as' adapted to be folded against one end ofthe case, and guided in a suitable groove 3 in the Hoor et of the case to close the 'front thereof.

In. the form of the invention shown for' 'illustrative purposes, there is a casting 5seeured to the Hoor 4 of the case or compartmer-t and having an upwardly projecting stud 6, serving as a plvotal support for one end of an' arm 7, the opposite end of. which 1s provided with a sleeve 8.

Rotatably mounted Within the sleevel 8 is a vertical shaft 9. which alfords a suitable l the supporting frameA for the goods is not of the case and. when within the case the.

`Fig. 3.

the essence of the presentinvention, and it may be variously modified, the essential in this respect being that such frame, which, for identification, will hereinafter be designated a rack, may be rotatably mounted, so that when in front position with respect to the case, it'may be turned to display the goods on all sides.

Secured to Ithe floor of the case is a curved track 20 'on' which rides a `roller 25 or like support connected to the shaft 9, the con` struct-ion being such that as the rack is mowed to and from a. position within the case, the roller 25 will sustain the rack and its load. Obviously, the rack may be other- Wise mipported than by the particular means shown and obviously it may be guided in its movements toward and from its4 position Within the case by other means than those shown, the invention not being circumscribed by these details, which are herein set forthf's one convenient form of the invention. When the rack is thus bodily moved to and from a position within'the case, it is desirable to prevent free rotative movement thereof in order that the case may not be injured by the rack, but when in position at the front of the case, it is desirable that the rack be freed to rotative movement, so that oods on all sides of the rack may be examlnedt A s one meansto this end, there is secured to the shaft 9, preferably 'at its lower portion, a disk l0, having'pins 27 projecting from its vunder portion, two of such pins being indicated in the present form of the inventionand disposed diametrically opposite each other, as indicated in Fig. 3. .Pivotally secured to the casting 5, see Fig. 3, is an arm 14 having near its free end a notched projection 19, and a spring 15 connecting the arms 7 and 14 normally acts to force the free end of the arm 14: toward the arm 7, as clearly indicated by 14 is a roller 16 adapted to bear upon the periphery of the disk 10, andto enter one ot' two notches or recesses 17 and 18 formed in the disk at substantially dialnet` rically opposite points, the construction being such that when the rack is bodily moved toward or from itsposition within Mounted at the free end of the arn'r notched projection 19 will be engaged with one of the'pins 27 and lock the rack from rotative movement, but when the rack 1s in its position at the front of the case the notched projection 19 and the pins 27 will be disengaged and thus free the rack to l rotative movement, so V,that the goods car ried by the rack may be conveniently examined, as shown by full and dotted lines, Fi .3.

i.lrhe disk 10 revolves in contact with the roller 16 when the rack is at-th'e front position and when said disk is turned a half revolution the roller enters one of the notched 17 or 18,l exerting a tendency to retard rotative movement of the rack, though not sulicient to prevent such movement by slight effort, and by disposing said notches, as shown, means are provided to indicate when the rods 12 of the rack are parallel with the front of the case and properly positioned for bodilyrnovement of the rack inward of the case.

Vhen the rack has been moved to the front of thecase and is turned or rotated to show the goods supported thereby, it should be prevented from movementv bodily into the case because such bodily movement would, at such times,l probably cause injury to the case or to the rack, or both. To meet this condition, the invention in the form here presented provides two perforated lugs 24 depending from the underside of the disk 10 and, between said lugs, ismounted the roller 25 adapted to travel along the track 20. At its front portion the track 2O is provided with an upwardly projecting curvedliange 21 which serves as a stop to limit the forward movement of the rack, said iiange 21 having an opening 26 which permits the roller 25 and its supporting lugs 24 to freely pass When the rack is inv rotative position such that the rack will not strike the case as said rack is bodily moved toward or from its rear position, but which prevents 'such bodily movement when the rack is turned or rotated from such rota tive position. As a convenient form of means to this end, the lugs 2-1 are made Wider than the'space 26, but the distancefbe'" tween the lugs is made less than the `space 'thus after the roller 25 has passed the spring catch 23, the latter rises in front of the roller and locks the rack in its inner position, yet

ila

noted that there is a suitable form of case or compartment adapted to contain a rotary supporting device or rack for sustaining goods to be exhibited; that the rotary supporting device or rack is bodily movable to and yfrom -a position within tlie case or compartment and is locked from rotation While being so bodily moved. It will also appear that the supporting device or rack need not necessarily swing' to' and from its position Within the case but may be moved votherwise to and from such position, the essential vin this respect being that While it is bodily moved to or from its position Within the. case, it shall be locked from rotative movementv by some form of -locking'devioqregardless of Whether it swings or moves rec` tilinearly to and from its position With-A in the case, and when it reaches its outer position, it will befreed to'. rotative movement. It will also be understood that when '-.the rack is in its outer. position and free to be rotated to show the goods on 'all sides o tp'tbe rack, it is locked in such outer si. tion, andthat tle'invention is not restricted to the particular form of the locking means herein shown, as. one practical 'embodiment of this feat-ure, ofthe invention. :It will further noted that not only is the rack ree. to be rotated whenin -outer position, and locked from such rotative movement when it is bodily moved to and from its position Within thecase, but it is also locked in yits inner position.

From the description ofthe invention, will be notedthat in theform thereof shown, the rotatable rack cannot be moved into'the case except when itA iss-in position such that the inward movement will not cause thel rack to contact with the case; and that/the lock to prevent rotative movement of the rack as it is bodily moved into the case-acts automatically to lock the rack as the rack is bodily moved toward its inner position; and as the rack is moved to and reaches its outer position, it is automatically unlocked to rotative movement.

That is claimed is- 1. A display device comprising a case or compartment, -a rotatable lrack for supporting goods rotatable' about a substantially vertical axis to present dierent supporting portions of the `rack to front position as the rack is rotated, said rotatable rack being f bodily movable to and from a position Within said case or compartment, and means to.

prevent bodily and free rotative movements of said .device concurrently. n

2. A display device comprising. a case or' compartment, a rotatable rack for supporting goods rotatable in substantially a horizontal plane and bodily movable to and from' a position Within said case or com artment, and means to prevent bodily and ree horizontal rotative movements of said device concurrently when the device is away from said position Within the case or compartment. ,f i

3. A display device comprising a case or compartment, a rotatable rack for supporting goods mounted for 'rotative movement in substantially a horizontal plane and bodily movable to and from a position Within said case or'compartment, and means to prevent bodily and free horizontal rotative 'movements of said device concurrently and permit the said movements non-concurrently. 4. A display device comprising a case or `of the rack to front position and meansto prevent bodily and free rotative movements of said device concurrently'and permit the said movements non-concurrently when said device is avvay from said position. y

5. A displayI device comprising a case or compartment, a rotatable rack `:for supporting goods, bodily movable to and from a povfsition within said case or compartment, and

means to permit free, rotative movement of' saidl device when in its outward position to enable ditferent ,supporting portions of the rack to be moved. to front position and to prevent initiation of rearward `bodily ymovement ofsaid'device except when. in a upredetermmed angular relation tovsald case or compartment.

6.'A display vdevice comprising a case 4or compartment, a rotatable rack for supporting goods, bodily movable to and from a position Within said case or compartment and mounted for rotative movementto present different supporting portions of the rack to front posit-ion as the rack is'rotated, connections between tlie case orI compartment and said rotatable rack to determine thel path vof bodily movement. of said rack as it is moved to and from its position Within the case, and means to prevent bodily and free rotative movements of said device concurrently.

7 In a display device, the combination of a case or compartment, a rotatable rack for supporting goods, a guideway With relation to which the rack travels as it movesto and from a position Within the caseA or compartment, said rack being mounted for rotative movement to present dierent supporting portionso-f the rack to front position as the rack is rotated, and means acting as the rack is' moved to and fremits position Within the ca'se or compartment to prevent free rotative movement ofthe said rotatable rack and to free it to rotative movement when it reaches a position at the front of the case.

8. I n a display device', the combination otv a case or compartment, a rotatable rack for supporting goods rotatable in substantially a horizontal plane to present different supporting portions of the rack to front position as it is rotated, said rack being movabie to and from a position Within .said case or compartment, means to restrain the rotatable rack from free rotative movement as it is moved to and from its position within the case or compartment and to free it to rotative movement as it reaches a position at the front of the oase or compartment, and connections between the case or compartment and said rotatable rack to determine the path of travel of the rotatable ack as it is moved to and from its position Within the ease.

' 9. A. display device, comprising a ease or compartment, a rotatable member for sup; porting goods mounted for rotative movement to successively present diti'erent supporting portions of the rack to front position, a support for said ,rotatable member adapted to permit the said member to be moved toward the front of the ease and back again to rearward position, and means rendered effective for preventing free rotation of said member upon moving the said member bodily with relation to the case.

10. A display device, comprising a case or compartment, a rotatable member carrying means for supporting goods and mounted for rotative movement in substantially a s ,liorizontal' plane to present diierent supporting portions of the rack to front position, a support for said rotatable member adapted to permit the said member to be moved -tovvrd the front of the case and back again to rearward position, and means for preventing said member from rotating during `said movement, said means acting to fretle-lsaid member-to rotative movement when said member is moved to the forward position, and to prevent-:tree rotative movement of said member as said member is moved from the forward position.

11. A display device, comprising a case or compartmei'lt, a rotatable member carrying -meansfor supporting goods and mounted for rotative movement in substantially a horizontal plane to present different supporting portions of the rack to front position,.a support for said rotatablemember adapted to permit the said member to be moved'tovvard the front of the case and back again to rearward position, and means for locking and unlocking the said rotatable member operated by movement of said support.

12. In a store display device, the combination ofa show case, a rotatable display` rack for supporting goods to be disfilayed adapted to be rotated when at the "hout of the case to successively present ditte-rent supporting'portions of the rack to front pom sition, means connected to the show case tor supporting the rotatable display rack and permitting it to be bodily moved to and from a position Within the show case, and means acting during such bodily movement of the rotatable rack to prevent free rota tive movement thereof and avoid contact of the rack with the show case as it is being so bodily moved.

13. In a store display device, the combination or' a. show case, a rotatable dispiay rack for supporting goods to'be displayed, rotatable in substantially a horizontal. plane to present diderent supporting portions of the rack to front position as the rack is rotated, means connected to the Ishovv case for supporting the rotatable display raclr and permitting it to be bodily moved to and vfrom a position Within the show case, means acting during such bodily movement of the rotatable rack to revent rotative movement thereof and avoi contact of the rack Wit-li the show oase as it is being so bodily moved, and means for locking the rotatable racl from such bodily movement when in outerposition.

` 14. In a store display device, the combination of a show case, a' rotatable display rack for supporting goods to bedisplayed, an arm pivotally joined to the shov.r oase and connected to the display rack, pern'iitting it to be bodily moved to and from a .position Apresent different supporting portions oii the rack to front position as the rack is rotated, means connected to the show case for supporting the rotatable rack and permitting it to be bodily moved to and from a position Wit-hin the shovv case, and means acting during such bodily movement of the rotan table rack to prevent rotative navement tliereoi2 and to permit therotatabie rect' o be rotated when it reaches its outer position.

16. In a store display device, the combiiiation of a show case, a rotatable display rack for supporting goods to be displayed rotatable in a substantially horizontal plane to present diiterent supporting portions of tire rack to front position as the. rack is rotated, means connected to the show case for supporting the rotatable rack and permitting it to be bodily moved to and from a. position Within the show case, means acting during 7 esmas such bddily'movement of the rotatable rack 'to preventY rotative movement thereof and to tion and rotated.

successively rying means for supporting ferent vsupporting or compartment, a rack for 1,7. A display device, comprising a clase' l supporting goods movable to and from a position Within the case or compartment and rotatable to ypresent different supporting portions of the rack to front position, means for' preventing said rotatable rack from i'otating when beingijbodilyl moved with relation Vto the case and permitting rotative movement when in front position ivith relation to the case,and means for also locking tlierotatabl'e rack in front position with relation to the case when the rotatable rack is free to be rotated. 1S; A display device, comprising a case or compartment, la rotatable member cal'- goods, and member being rotatable in substantially a horizontal plane to successively present difpoi'tioiisdhereof to front position, a support for said member movable toward the front ojr" the case and back again to rearward position, andineans for locking said support when in forward position operated by rotation of 'said'ineinbeiz i 19. A display device, comprising a case oi coil-ilmitnient, a rotatable member carryiilg means for supporting goods, saidinembeil being rotatable in substantially a horizontal pla'iie to successively present diiferent supporting 'portions thereof .to front position. a support for said member movable t0- ivard the front of the Acase andback again to rearward position, means operative for locking said support upon rotating the said sitioii and operative-to lock the said rotau table member by rearward movement of the member wlien the vsupport is iii forward po"- tion of a case or eoii'ipartii'ient, a rotatable display rack for supporting goods, an arm lpivoted to' the rotatable display rack and permitting the said rack to be moved to and from a position within the case, means for locking the rackfron'i. free rotative-movement While being moved 'bodily to or from itsposition within the case or compartment and freeingr vit to rotative movement when in outer position.

2l. In a store display device, the combination ot' a ease or compartment, a rotatable display rack for supporting goods, an arm pivoted to the, case and connected to said rotatable display rack and permitting the said rack tol/ie moved to and from a `position within the ease, means for locking the case and connected tov saidl rack from free rotative movement while being moved bodily to or from its position within the case or compartmentand freeing it to rotative movement when in outer position, and m'eaiis to prevent bodily move- `nient of the rack into the 'case or compartment ivliile being rotated.

22. The combination ivitli a case or compartment, of a display rack comprising an loiv said disk, a curved track on `which said f roller is adapted to travel, means for engaging the periphery of said disk, and stop devices, for limiting the movement of said arm.

24. The con'ibinatioii, with a case or compartment, of an arm pivotally supported on the floor of the case, a vertical shaft carried by said arm, a said shaft is adapted to move, adisk mountcd-on said( iafha roller belowsaid disk, a pivoted bar arralliged parallel vWith said ai'iii and having a spring connection therewith. means carried by said barv for engaging said disk, means for limiting 'the movement of said arm, and means for limiting the rotary movement of said shaft.

25. The combination, with a case or compartment, of an arni pivotally supported on the Hoor of the case, a vertical shaft carried by said arm, a. curved track over which said shaft is adapted to move, a disk mounted on v,said shaft, a rollerbelovv said disk, a pi voted means carried by said bar for engaging said disk, means for limiting the movement of Vsaid arm, and means for limiting the rotary pi-omovement of said shaft consisting of Jection on said disk and a catch device on said bar.

26. The. combination, with a case or coinpartinent, Aof an arm pivotally secured to the floor of said case, a rotary vertical shaft carried by said arm, a disk mounted on said shaft, a roller below said disk, a curved. track overwhich said roller is adapted to travel, a pivoted bar parallel with said arm, and means carried thereby for engaging said disk. V i

27. The lcoml3`i nation,-With a case or compartment, ofan arm pivotally secured to the Hoor of said case, a rotary vertical shaft carried by said arm, a. disk n'ioiintcd on said shaft. a roller below said disk, a curved curved track over which` track over which said roller is adapted to travel, a pvoted bar arallel with said arm, means carried 'there y for engaging said disk `consisting of :L roller adapted to enter notches in the disk, and means on said track for locking said shaft in its forward and rearward' position.

528. The combination, with a euse or compznftment, of e display yrack comprising a swxngmg supporting garments and the like, a curved track ovel1 which the arm is adapted to ann, means carried' thereby for` travel, a roller below said x11-1n, and means for preventing `inward movement of said arm consisting of a curved flange on said curved track with which the supports of said rollerV are adapted to engage.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set hand this 21st day of October, 1909, in presence of two attesting witnesses.

OSCAR LEAVENWORTH SMITH. lVitnesseS BENJ. H. RENSHAW, M. M. RENSHAW.

my the Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C." 

